The One Who Got Away

"Mr. Cruz is truly the epitome of a devoted husband. Five years ago, during the earthquake, he ignored everyone's warning and dug through the rubble with his bare hands to save Ms. Baird. He even nearly crippled his hands in the process.

"Every year on their anniversary, he holds a wedding ceremony at Gemini Towers. He's put so much effort into restoring this painting. How many men in the world would go this far for their wives?"

…

Even though I was leaving tomorrow, the fact that he had spent five years restoring the painting still moved me to tears.

Dominic tenderly reminisced with me. "Remember how all the adults laughed at me when I was little and told them I would marry you someday?"

Back then, he would give me all of his money, saying that a man's money should be entrusted to his wife for safekeeping.

I couldn't help but laugh and cry along with him as he recounted all of the memories we shared together.

Just then, his phone rang. Without even glancing at the screen, he declined the call. Unfortunately, the caller was persistent and kept calling again and again.

"You should answer it. It could be something urgent."

A flicker of irritation crossed Dominic's eyes. But in the end, he still stepped aside to take the call.

I couldn't hear what the person on the other end said, but Dominic's expression shifted slightly, and his gaze darkened with guilt.

"Yvonne, there's an emergency at the company. I'll see you at the wedding tomorrow."

I nodded and didn't call him out on his lies.

He leaned in to kiss me, then turned and left.

The moment he was gone, my phone buzzed with a message from Rosa. It was an invitation to a birthday party, and the location was none other than the Crystal Hall on the top floor of Gemini Towers.

When I saw the lively scene inside the hall, my legs felt heavy, making it hard to move. In addition to Dominic and Rosa, his friends were there too, and even his parents had come.

So this was why he hadn't invited them to our wedding. He told me it was because he wanted it to be just the two of us.

I watched helplessly as Dominic presented the same supposedly one-of-a-kind masterpiece painting to her.

His friends started cheering and stirring things up.

"Dominic, your missus sure is cultured. She doesn't care for jewelry but treasures fine art."

Dominic shot them a cold glare. "Watch what you're saying. I only have one missus, and she's not it."

The men quickly mimed zipping their lips.

"Don't worry, Dominic. We won't spill the beans. Your precious wife has no idea the painting was secretly moved here."

"Who can even tell the difference between the real thing and a fake?"

Tracy Spence, Dominic's mother, walked over and slid the family's heirloom bracelet onto Rosa's wrist. "Although you can't publicly acknowledge your relationship with Dominic, you're younger and more understanding than Yvonne, so I only see you as my true daughter-in-law."

I suddenly remembered a time from long ago when my parents had just passed away. Tracy had held me and said, "There, there. Dominic should hurry up and marry you, so you can be my daughter-in-law."

His friends also teased him. "He's totally love-struck, Yvonne. You're the only one we see as his wife."

For 1,000 days, they all silently helped Dominic hide the truth. I was the only one in the world who looked like a fool.

Dominic Cruz, the last trace of love between us disappeared today.

Ten minutes later, a black car stopped in front of me.

A man stepped forward. "Ms. Baird, the body is ready. The new phone and plane ticket are prepared as well. From now on, no one in the world will be able to find you."

"Send the fake body directly to the wedding venue tomorrow, and hand this phone to the groom personally."

What I left for Dominic wasn't a grand wedding but a bottomless abyss.

I wanted him to feel my torment again and again.

I wanted him to spend his entire life haunted by the thought that his wife, who was suffering from a terminal illness, was slowly walking toward death while he wallowed in another woman's arms.

I wanted him to know that today was our final goodbye.

After giving all my instructions, I took my new ID and got into an unregistered car.

"Driver, take me to the airport."